Ctmsttan  223orft  tn  31talp. 


THE 

Biblical  Colleg 

IN 


Rome. 


MORRIS  K.  JESUP, 

JOHN  TAYLOR  JOHNSTON, 
HOWARD  POTTER, 
THEODORE  ROOSEVELT, 
GEORGE  H.  STUART. 


New  York ,  February  1st .,  1873. 

This  Italian  movement,  I  was  led  to  believe  while  I  was  in  Italy,  is  one 
of  the  most  promising  agencies  for  the  evangelization  of  that  people ;  and 
the  College  a  very  desirable  thing  indeed  to  furnish  an  Italian  ministry  for 
the  Italian  people,  who  are  somewhat  sensitive  in  regard  to  foreign  inter¬ 
ference,  but  will  listen  with  interest  to  instructors  of  their  own  nation  and 
language.  I  heartily  commend  the  enterprise. 

THOS.  E.  VERMILYE. 


In  Rome,  a  school  of  the  prophets  to  train  evangelical  ministers,  from 
out  of  the  native  population,  to  become  pastors  of  the  churches  which  are 
now  springing  forth  all  over  Italy,  like  stars  in  its  long  night!  American 
Christians  should  vie  with  each  other  in  promoting  Italian  evangelization. 

HENRY  WARD  BEECHER. 


I  approve  this  work  and  give  it  my  hearty  commendation. 


HOWARD  CROSBY, 
WM.  H.  BOOLE, 

E.  P.  ROGERS, 

ROB’T.  R.  BOOTH, 
MORRIS  C.  SUTPIIEN, 
CHARLES  F.  DEEMS, 


W.  ORMISTON, 
ROBERT  CAMERON, 

N.  W.  CONKLING, 

WM.  H.  FERRIS, 

ALEX.  R.  THOMPSON, 
GEORGE  B.  CHEEVER, 


and  others. 


Christian  22Korft  tn  ^talp. 


r  h  e 


BIBLICAL  COLLEGE 


IN 


ROME. 


OCCASIONAL  PAPERS  NO.  III. 

EDITED  BY  JOHN  B.  THOMPSON, 

MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 


NEW  YORK 

American  Church  Press  Co.,  hi  East  Ninth  Street. 

187J. 


i 


This  is  to  certify  that  the  Rev.  John  B.  Thompson,  D.D.,  is  hereby  com¬ 
missioned  by  the  Evangelization  Committee  of  the  Free  Italian  Church  to 
proceed  to  America,  to  further  the  interests  of  said  Church  by  representing 
said  Church  at  the  judicatories  of  sister  churches,  by  collecting  funds  for 
the  general  work  of  the  Church,  and  especially  for  the  support  of  the 
Biblical  College  in  Rome. 

In  this  work  he  is  affectionately  and  earnestly  commended  to  the  Chris¬ 
tians' of  that  land. 

ABM.  R.  VAN  NEST,  Jr., 

President  of  Missionary  Committee. 

JOHN  R.  MACDOUGALL, 

Treasurer  and  Foreign  Secretary. 

Florence,  Italy,  October -30, 1872. 


1  regard  the  Biblical  College  in  Rome  as  of  the  first  importance  to 
the  progress  of  the  Gospel  in  Italy,  and  can  speak  of  the  integrity  and 
prudence  of  Dr.  John  B.  Thompson,  the  Commissioner  of  the  Italian 
Committee,  from  long  acquaintance.  Contributors  may  rest  assured 
that  moneys  collected  by  him,  whether  for  the  College,  or  for  the  sup¬ 
port  of  Evangelists,  will  be  used  for  the  purposes  designated. 

WM.  H.  CAMPBELL, 

President  of  Rutgers  College. 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J., 

February  13,  1 87  3. 


An  educated  ministry  is  at  this  time  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
Italy.  The  work  of  the  Free  Italian  Church,  and  the  Commissioner, 
merit  the  fullest  confidence.  We  have  known  Rev.  Dr.  Thompson 
for  twenty  years,  and  hope  he  may  meet  with  speedy  success  in  secur¬ 
ing  funds  both  for  the  College  and  for  the  support  of  a  regular  ministry. 


DAVID  D.  DEMAREST, 
A.  B.  VAN  ZANDT, 

S.  M.  WOODBRIDGE, 
JOHN  DE  WITT. 

New  Brunswick,  N.  J., 

February  14,  1873. 


1  Professors  in  the  The - 
ological  Seminary  of 
j  the  Reformed  Church 
j  in  America. 


A  BIBLICAL  COLLEGE  IN  ROME. 


Home  is  free  !  After  centuries  of  papal  tyranny  checkered  with 
a  hundred  and  twenty  vain  revolutions,  the  power  of  priestcraft  is 
broken.  Rome  is  again  a  free  city  and  the 

CAPITAL  OF  A  FREE  STALE. 

There  is  before  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  rist  in  Italy  an  open 
door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it.  The  stupendous  Providence  of  God 
has  made  history  so  rapidly  that  its  opening  lines  sweep  beyond  our 
recognition.  But  on  the  Italian  peninsula  and  even  in  the  Eternal 
City  (where  until  recently  no  Protestant  or  Evangelical  Church 
would  have  been  permitted,  and  where  even  a  scanty  religious  Ser¬ 
vice  under  the  flag  of  the  United  States  at  the  rooms  of  the  Embassy 
could  scarcely  hold  a  begrudged  place),  there  are  breaking  into  life 
multitudinous  centres  of  Christian  work,  and,  under  the  eye  and 
almost  within  the  hearing  of  Pio  Nono,  busy  presses  are  printing  copies 
of  the  Word  of  God,  and  living  Evangelists  are  preaching.  The 
disenthral lment  which  but  a  year  or  two  ago  seemed  a  dream,  a  hope 
only,  lias  become  a  reality.  From  the  Alps  to  the  Adriatic,  from 
Susa  to  Sicily, 


4 


ITALY  IS  OPEN  TO  THE  GOSPEL. 

There  is  no  longer  any  power  to  prevent  its  preaching.  And  a  free 
Church,  the  first  fruits  of  Italy  unto  Christ,  reaches  out  its  scarcely 
disenthralled  hands  with  imploring  entreaty  for  help  to  train  men 
for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  send  them  forth  over  the 
mountains  and  through  the  valleys,  and  into  the  cities,  and  the  ham¬ 
lets,  bearing  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Grace  of  God. 

In  the  General  Assembly  at  Florence,  in  1871,  twenty  three 
Churches  were  represented  and  four  Evangelists  from  incipient  sta¬ 
tions  were  present.  In  the  Assembly  at  Rome,  in  1872,  twenty-nine 
deputies  were  present,  representing  twenty-eight  Churches  ;  and,  in 
addition,  four  Evangelists.  These  facts  are  enough  to  bring  to  the 
view  of  all  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus  the  vigorous  beginning  of 

IHE  FREE  ITALIAN  CHURCH. 

Italy  can  be  won  for  Christ  only  by  Italians.  In  the  beginning 
of  the  Gospel,  men  of  another  race,  in  the  spirit  and  power  of 
apostles,  may  and  doubtless  must  bring  the  glad  tidings,  especially  to 
uncivilized  nations.  But  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Italy  must  be  a 
Church  of  Italians,  with  its  native-born  and  home-trained  Ministry. 
The  Free  Church  of  Italy  has  reached  that  point  in  its  career  when 
this  native  Ministry  has  become  a  pressing  necessity.  To  this  end 
there  must  be  a  competent  training  school  in  the  heart  of  the  Italian 
peninsula.  From  the  Capital  must  go  forth,  as  of  old,  the  bands  of 
faithful  men  who  are  to  win  the  peninsula  for  Christ. 

It  hath  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save 
them  that  believe.  And  the  logic  is  quick,  sharp,  and  unanswerable  : 
How  shall  they  believe  on  Him  of  Whom  they  have  not  heard  ;  and 


5 


how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher ;  and  how  shall  they  preach 
except  they  be  sent  ? 


THE  CRISIS  IS  URGENT. 

Disen thrallment  from  papal  bondage  means,  and  that  speedily, 
either  the  victory  of  faith  in  the  Redeemer  or  dreary  lapse  into 
hideous  infidelity.  The  reaction  from  slavish  faith  in  a  Church  sys¬ 
tem  has  been  proven  again  and  again  to  be,  1st.  the  vacuity  ;  and  2d, 
^  the  malignity  of  utter  unbelief.  Witness  France  in  the  revolution 

of  the  last  century.  Already  the  lurid  symptoms  of  such  reaction 
have  appeared  in  Italy.  Where  the  domination  of  the  Church  means 
the  luxury  of  the  priesthood  and  the  oppression  of  the  people,  the 
downfall  of  priestly  misrule  means  the  contemptuous  abnegation  of 
all  religious  faith,  whose  bloom  and  fruit  are  the  furious  and  destruc¬ 
tive  orgies  of  Communism.  It  is  a  sufficiently  significant  fact  that  in 
the  newly  attained  license  of  the  press,  Italian  newspapers  that  know 
the  appetite  which  it  is  profitable  to  feed,  boldly  choose  for  themselves 
such  titles  as,  Satan  (Satanas)  ;  The  voice  of  the  Devil  (La  voce  del 
Diavolo)  ;  The  Thief  (II  Ladro). 

IS  ITALY  TO  BE  LEFT 

to  meet  this  element  as  it  has  been  in  Paris  ?  Are  the  scenes  of 
Communistic  rule  to  be  repeated  ?  Or  is  God’s  redeeming  Gospel 
to  be  brought  in  to  heal  the  hurt  of  this  oppressed  people  ;  and  to  save 
them  for  truth,  and  freedom,  and  Christ?  There  can  be  but  one 
answer.  And  what  is  to  be  done,  is  to  be  done  quickly.  The 
need,  the  opportunity,  the  peril,  and  the  only  adequate  means, 
are  full  in  the  view  of  Christian  eyes.  To  rescue  this  beautiful  land 


from  popery,  to  hold  it  against  fierce  unbelief  and  destructive  radi¬ 
calism,  native-born  men  must  be  trained  and  sent  forth,  to  plant 
everywhere  the  Jiving  Gospel.  Such  men  offer  themselves.  And  to 
give  them  the  needful  training,  the  Church  in  Italy  appeals  for  help 
to  establish 

A  BIBLICAL  COLLEGE  IN  ROME. 

And  not  for  Rome  alone,  nor  yet  for  Italy  alone,  but  for  the  world. 
The  news  of  such  a  college  in  Rome  would  thrill  through  the  Cath¬ 
olic  world  as  a  premonition  of  doom.  The  moral  effect  would  be  to 
weaken  the  sinews  and  unstring  the  nerves  of  hoary  error.  With  a 
Biblical  College  in  Rome,  what  may  we  not  anticipate?  For,  spite 
of  all  our  hopes  or  fears,  Rome  is  the  religious  centre  of  the 
world.  From  no  other  source  goes  forth  a  tithe  of  the  religious 
influence  with  which,  whether  for  good  or  for  evil,  she  pervades  the 
nations.  And  it  will  be  so  for  many  years  to  come. 

Colleges  in  Rome  are  legion.  Students  are  gathered  from  every 
land  and  every  clime.  Monasteries,  as  such,  may  be  suppressed. 
But  many  of  them  will  continue  as  institutions  of  learning.  And 
in  all  of  them  the  zeal  for  popery  will  burn  brighter  than  ever. 

A  SPIRIT  OF  INQUIRY 

is  abroad  even  now.  Already  thoughtful  men,  students,  and  priests 
even,  are  seeking  for  the  truth.  Individuals  here  and  there — 
scores  in  all  —  are  writing  to  well-known  evangelists,  asking 
for  more  light.  Shall  there  not  be  among  the  many  institutions 
teaching  error,  at  least  one  which  teaches  truth,  one  where  inquiring- 
minds  may  have  their  doubts  resolved?  What  avails  it  to  assert 


that  Romanism  is  a  perversion  of  Christianity  if  it  be  not  proven  to 
the  thoughtful !  To  denounce  infidelity  and  atheism  if  one  does  not 
show  a  more  excellent  way !  There  is  no  real  conflict  between 
science  and  true  Christianity.  To  show  this,  masters  of  science  who 
are  at  the  same  time  masters  of  Christianity,  skilled  in 

BIBLICAL  AS  WELL  AS  SCIENTIFIC  LORE, 

are  necessary.  An  evangelical  institution  of  this  kind  would  send 
forth  many  to  bless  both  Italy  and  the  Avorld.  Some  who  come 

up  from  far-off  countries  to  study  under  papal  direction  would  learn 

% 

the  Gospel,  and  return  to  preach  the  truth  which  once  they  per¬ 
secuted. 

Is  any  other  opportunity  which  offers  so  hopeful  as  this  ?  To 
bless  not  only  Italy,  but  the  world ;  and  especially  the  papal  world, 
sitting  in  darkness!  Who  would  not  be  glad  to  do  just  this?  No 
labored  appeal  is  necessary.  Facts  speak. 

Morris  K.  Jesuf, 

John  Taylor  Johnston, 

Howard  Potter, 

Theodore  Roosevelt, 

George  H.  Stuart, 

are  trustees.  All  moneys  for  the  college  will  be  under  their  com¬ 
plete  control  in  every  respect.  What  greater  security  for  judicious 
management  could  be  given !  Mr.  Theodore  Roosevelt  is  now  in 
Rome  making  due  inquiry.  Careful  investigation  shows  that 
$75,000  are  required  to  purchase  the  ground  and  erect  the  neces¬ 
sary  buildings.  Can  conscientious  men  who  give  to  the  Lord 


8 


with  the  same  care  they  bestow  upon  their  own  business  de¬ 
sire  a  better  investment?  Obviously,  funds  for  this  purpose  will 
be  given  only  by  those  who  have  means  to  give,  and  intelligence  to 
appreciate  the  importance  of  the  work.  To  these  the  undersigned 
appeals  in  name  of  the  trustees. 

Inquiries  (by  letter  only)  will  be  promptly  answered  if  ad¬ 
dressed  to 

JOHN  B.  THOMPSON, 

Office  of  Morris  K.  Jestjf, 

59  Liberty  street, 

* 

New  York. 


N.B. — These  “  Occasional  Papers  ”  will  be  forwarded  to  all  Friends  and 
Subscribers  to  the  Free  Italian  Church,  who  are  earnestly  invited  to  inter¬ 
est  others  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  in  Italy. 


E  Y  A  N  G  E  L  I  Z  A  T  I  O  N  COMMITTEE 


OF  THE  FREE  ITALIAN  CHURCH. 

Appointed  in  General  Assembly  at  Rome,  December,  1872. 

A.  II.  Van  Nest,  D.D.,  American  Church,  Florence,  President. 

Paolo  De-Michelts,  Evangelist  in  Pisa,  Secretary . 

E'rancesco  Lagomarsino,  Evangelist  in  Milan. 

Alessandro  Gayazzi,  Evangelist  in  Rome. 

Salvatore  Ferretti,  Evangelist  in  Florence. 

Signor  Jahier,  Evangelist  in  Florence. 

John  R.  MacDougall,  M.A.,  Scotch  Church,  Florence, 

Treasurer  and  Foreign  Secretary. 

Synod’s  Rooms,  34  Vesey  Street,  { 
New  York,  February  18,  1873.  J 

The  Rev.  Drs.  Van  Nest  and  Thompson,  the  President,  and  the  Ccmmis-' 
sioner  of  the  Free  Italian  Church,  are  well  known  to  us.  They  have  done 
faithful  service  in  the  ministry,  but  none  of  their  work  has  been  of  greater 
interest  or  importance  than  that  in  which  they  are  now  engaged  for  the 
Free  Italian  Church  and  its  Roman  College.  We  commend  this  work  to 
all  who  desire  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  in  Italy,  with  the  assurance  that 
their  contributions  cannot  pass  through  safer  hands. 

JOHN  L.  SEE, 

Cor.  Sec.  Board  of  Education ,  II.  C.  A. 

JACOB  WEST, 

Cor.  Sec.  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  R.  C.  A. 

J  M.  FERRIS, 

Cor.  Sec.  Board  of  Foreign  Missions ,  R.  C.  A. 

College  of  New  Jersey,  [ 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  January  25,  1873.  \ 

The  Rev.  Dr.  MacDougall  of  Florence  has  the  confidence  of  the  friends 
of  the  Evangelization  of  Italy,  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  as  a  man  of  ac¬ 
tivity  and  sound  judgment,  an  excellent  and  trustworthy  man  of  business, 
and  well  fitted  to  take  charge  of  the  funds  contributed  for  the  spread  of  the 
Gospel  in  Italy. 

JAMES  McCOSH. 

* 

Boston,  January  31,  1873. 

Having  visited  Brother  MacDougall  at  Florence  and  made  minute  in¬ 
quiries  while  there  respecting  his  work  in  Italy,  as  well  as  conversed  with 
leading  Christian  brethren  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent,  I  can  as¬ 
sure  those  interested  in  this  work  that  their  funds  cannot  go  into  safer  or 
more  prudent  hands. 

JAMES  B.  DUNN. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  commending  Rev.  Dr.  MacDougall  and  his 
work  to  the  confidence  of  Christians  in  America,  from  a  personal  acquaint¬ 
ance  with  him. 


A.  S.  BARNES. 


